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To facilitate appropriate veterinary care for feline patients while protecting their mental health, practitioners have moved to premedicating cats with anxiolytics before transportation and examination. Premedication has most commonly involved off-label use of gabapentinoids and trazodone. However, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved formulation of pregabalin flavored oral solution was recently released. Clinical studies showed the Schedule V controlled substance to be efficacious for reducing acute feline fear during transportation and veterinary visits. Healthy cats exhibited minimal sedation and side effects. Compared with gabapentin, pregabalin is more potent, requires a smaller dose, and has a longer duration of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To determine perioperative analgesia associated with oral administration of a novel methadone-fluconazole-naltrexone formulation in dogs undergoing routine ovariohysterectomy. ANIMALS 43 healthy female dogs. PROCEDURES Dogs were randomly assigned to receive the methadone-fluconazolenaltrexone formulation at I of 2 dosages (0.5 mg/kg, 2.5 mg/kg, and 0.125 mg/kg, respectively, or 1.0 mg/kg, 5.0 mg/kg, and 0.25 mg/kg, respectively, PO, q 12 h, starting the evening before surgery; n = 15 each) or methadone alone (0.5 mg/kg, SC, q 4 h starting the morning of surgery; 13). Dogs were sedated with acepromazine, and anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with isoflurane. A standard ovariohysterectomy was performed by experienced surgeons. Sedation and pain severity (determined with the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale--short form [GCPS-SF]) were scored for 48 hours after surgery. Rescue analgesia was to be provided if the GCPS-SF score was > 6. Dogs also received carprofen starting the day after surgery. RESULTS None of the dogs required rescue analgesia. The highest recorded GCPS-SF score was 4. A significant difference in GCPS-SF score among groups was identified at 6:30 AM the day after surgery, but not at any other time. The most common adverse effect was perioperative vomiting, which occurred in 11 of the 43 dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Oral administration of a methadone-fluconazole-naltrexone formulation at either of 2 dosages every 12 hours (3 total doses) was as effective as SC administration of methadone alone every 4 hours (4 total doses) in dogs undergoing routine ovariohysterectomy. Incorporation of naltrexone in the novel formulation may provide a deterrent to human opioid abuse or misuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elective undergraduate courses are offered at the University of Georgia and the University of Florida that explore veterinary careers, offer guidance on being a successful veterinary school applicant, and expose students to the reality of the profession through guest speakers. Students ( N = 276) from both universities responded to a survey offered at the first and last class period over the course of five semesters. Using 100-point Likert scales, students were asked to gauge their opinion of and interest in the profession and demonstrate their confidence in various aspects of building a successful application. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with survey completion time as the fixed effect. After completing the course, students showed decreased ( p < .01) interest in becoming a veterinarian and a reduced ( p = .01) opinion of the profession. Despite these decreases, student perception ratings remained in the positive range in both categories. Student opinions of financial commitment, veterinarian mental health, and diversity did not change ( p > .20) after taking the course, though ratings in these categories were neutral to somewhat negative. The post survey revealed students demonstrated more confidence in applying to veterinary school ( p < .01), including understanding academic requirements, identifying ideal references, composing a statement of purpose, and gaining veterinary experience ( p < .01). The survey demonstrated the benefits of a career exploration class for pre-veterinary students by increasing applicant confidence and showed that challenges facing the profession may influence the applicant pool.

Amyloid beta peptides (Aβ) are key indicators of Alzheimer's disease and are also linked to cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. This study explored the accumulation of Aβ in a standard 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model of PD. We unilaterally injected 6-OHDA into the substantia nigra of Wistar rats to induce dopaminergic cell degeneration and death, a characteristic of PD. The goal was to detect Aβ protein in tissues and blood vessels showing inflammation or degeneration from the 6-OHDA injection. Our results showed that 6-OHDA injection produced a statistically significant rise in Aβ concentration at the injection site 60 minutes after injection, which was slightly reduced 24 hours post-injection but still significantly higher than in controls. We also tried Gp120 injection in the same zone but it only produced effects comparable to control needle trauma. The presence of Aβ in tissues and blood vessel walls after injection was confirmed through ELISA tests and was supported by immunohistochemical staining of injection areas. We found that the increased Aβ concentration was visible in and around blood vessels and inside blood vessel walls, and also, to a lesser extent in some cells, most probably neurons, in the area. This research highlights the connection between dopaminergic cell poisoning and the accumulation of Aβ, offering insights into the progression of PD to cognitive disorders and dementia., (©The Author(s) 2024. Open Access. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons CC-BY International License.)